ELECTRICITY
SECTION 2: SERIES CIRCUIT
Westminster College
STANDARDS:
Students know basic energy types, sources, and conversions.
Students describe the flow of energy through an object or system.
Students recognize or illustrate simple direct current series and parallel circuits
composed of batteries, light bulbs, wire and on/off switches.
BACKGROUND:
A circuit means ‘to go around’. It is a circle or path that carries an electric
current. An electric circuit must have an energy source, wire to carry the energy
and an object requiring the energy. Each group of students will be given these
three things and asked to figure out how to make the light bulb light up. Allow
students to figure this out on their own through trial and error- a true inquiry
lesson.
SAFETY:
Discuss safety with students prior to experiment. The bulbs break easily. The
battery can produce enough heat to cause a slight burn. The wire is sharp.
.
MATERIALS:
D cell battery and battery holder
Wire (2-4 pieces per group, 5-6 inches long)
Light bulb and bulb holder (2 per group if possible-check that the kind of bulb is
the same for each group. If the group has one oblong-shaped bulb and one circleshaped bulb it will affect the circuit.
PROCEDURE:
1. After reviewing the safety information, instruct students to get into groups.
2. Pass out the worksheet.
3. Instruct students to brainstorm together to figure out how to make the circuit work
to light the bulb. Have them list the objects they need and list on the worksheet.
Have one person from each group get the materials.
4. Remind students to fill in their findings on their worksheet.
5. Once they are ready to go on to the third task requiring the use of another bulb
and battery, have the groups pair up (if supplies are limited) or hand out more
bulbs and batteries.
6. Once groups have completed their tasks, have them report their findings to the
class. They can share information from the last task or they can write them on the
chalkboard.
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CONCLUSION:
Discuss successful circuits and the flow of electricity through the circuit.
The electricity goes from the battery, out of the positive terminal, through the
wire, into the battery holder to the bulb (base terminal or side terminal), out the
wire and to the negative terminal of the battery.
Discuss correct answers to brightness question.
Ask students to connect 2 bulbs and 2 batteries in a circuit. Then have them
unscrew a bulb. What happens? The circuit was broken. Explain that this is a
series circuit. In a series circuit, when one bulb breaks or is missing, it stops the
flow of electricity.
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